How to Earn a Teaching Degree Online
You can earn a teaching degree online through a state-approved teacher preparation program that includes coursework in child development and classroom management, plus supervised student teaching in a physical classroom. Bachelor’s programs typically take two to four years, and master’s programs run 12 to 20 months. Every path ends with a state certification exam.
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An online teaching degree still requires in-person student teaching. That single requirement surprises more prospective students than any other part of the process, and it shapes almost every decision covered below, from which program to choose to how long the degree will actually take.
Use the links below to jump to accreditation checks, program timelines, the application process, and what happens after you graduate.
- Who should consider an online teaching degree
- How to check a program’s accreditation
- How long an online teaching degree takes
- The application and advising process
- Coursework and choosing a specialization
- Completing student teaching as an online student
- Getting certified after you graduate
Who Should Consider an Online Teaching Degree
Online teaching degrees attract students who can’t put their lives on hold for a traditional campus schedule. A parent working full time, a career changer supporting a household, or someone living far from a university with a teacher preparation program are all common candidates. None of them need to relocate or quit a job to start.
Most online teaching degree students don’t need to live in the state where the university is based, though the state where you plan to teach still determines which licensure requirements apply once you finish. That distinction matters more than most students realize going in.
Coursework runs asynchronously in most programs, meaning students log in and complete assignments, discussions, and submissions on their own schedule rather than at a set class time. A personal advisor typically checks in throughout the program to help with pacing and course selection.
Check Accreditation Before You Enroll
Accreditation works in two layers, but they don’t carry equal weight for licensure. Regional accreditation covers the university itself. What actually determines whether a degree leads to a teaching license is state approval: each state’s Department of Education reviews and approves specific educator preparation programs, whether or not those programs also hold accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Many state-approved programs aren’t CAEP-accredited and still lead to licensure, so state approval, not CAEP status, is the thing to confirm.
Every state’s Department of Education maintains a list of approved educator preparation programs, including online options. Checking that list before enrolling confirms the program actually leads to a teaching license in your state, not just a diploma.
How Long It Takes to Earn a Teaching Degree Online
A bachelor’s degree in education generally takes two to four years, depending on transfer credits and course load. Programs that accept credit for prior learning or offer accelerated, competency-based terms can shorten that timeline for students who already hold college credit. A master’s degree for those who already hold a bachelor’s in another field typically takes 12 to 20 months.
Student teaching sets the real floor on how fast any of this moves. Coursework can be compressed, but supervised classroom hours cannot, so the clinical placement is usually the last requirement standing between a student and graduation.
The Application and Advising Process
The application process starts with an admissions advisor who reviews transfer credits, prior coursework, and career goals, then maps out which requirements still need to be completed. This step determines the real timeline more than anything in the program brochure.
Once admitted, most programs assign a personal mentor or advisor who helps build a semester-by-semester plan toward graduation. That plan usually accounts for licensure exam windows and student teaching placement deadlines, not just coursework. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota’s online education programs are one example of this advising-first model applied to a graduate degree.
Students weighing a master’s-level path can compare specific programs directly, since requirements and pacing vary by university.
Coursework and Choosing a Specialization
Most programs open with foundations of education, covering the history and major theories behind current teaching practice. From there, students move into child development coursework, which examines how learning and behavior change across ages and grade levels.
Classroom management coursework follows, covering motivation, behavior intervention, and how developmental stage affects what a teacher should expect from students. Programs typically let students choose a subject specialization at this point, such as elementary education, math, language arts, social studies, or science, which then shapes the remaining course sequence. Special education is one of the more in-demand specializations online, with programs like George Mason University’s online education degrees built specifically around that need.
Completing Student Teaching as an Online Student
Every online teaching degree that leads to licensure includes a student teaching placement in an actual classroom, working under a cooperating teacher for a period of several months while a university supervisor evaluates progress. How that placement gets arranged varies significantly by program.
Some programs help place students with partner schools directly. Others expect the student to arrange the placement themselves, often through a school where they already have a connection. Confirming which model a program uses before enrolling avoids a last-minute scramble to find a cooperating classroom.
Getting Certified After You Graduate
Finishing the degree doesn’t grant a teaching license by itself. Every state still requires passing its required certification exams, which vary by state and often include Praxis along with a state-specific performance assessment, plus a background check, before issuing a license. The state Board of Education or Department of Education reviews the completed application and confirms eligibility.
For a state-by-state breakdown of what each licensing board requires after graduation, see the map of state teaching certification requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an online teaching degree the same as a teacher preparation program?
Not automatically. A general online education degree covers subject matter, but only a program your state has approved as an educator preparation program leads to a teaching license. CAEP accreditation is common but not required for that approval, so confirm state approval specifically before enrolling.
How long does it take to earn a teaching degree online?
A bachelor’s typically takes two to four years, and a master’s for career changers typically takes 12 to 20 months. Supervised student teaching, not coursework, usually sets the actual minimum timeline.
Do online teaching degree programs include student teaching?
Yes. Every program that leads to licensure requires supervised, in-person student teaching in a real classroom, even though coursework is completed online.
What accreditation should an online teaching degree program have?
Look for regional accreditation for the university, plus your state’s approval of the specific teacher preparation program. CAEP accreditation is a helpful signal but not universal, since many state-approved programs operate without it. Regional accreditation alone doesn’t guarantee the program leads to a teaching license.
Can I use an online degree from another state to get certified where I live?
Usually, yes, though the requirements come from the state where you plan to teach, not where the university is based. Many states accept programs approved in other states through reciprocity agreements or individual transcript review, so confirm your specific state’s process before enrolling.
- Accreditation has two layers — regional accreditation covers the university, while your state’s approval of the specific teacher preparation program is what determines licensure, whether or not that program also holds CAEP accreditation.
- Student teaching happens in person — no online teaching degree that leads to licensure skips supervised classroom placement.
- Timelines vary by starting point — bachelor’s programs typically run two to four years and master’s programs typically run 12 to 20 months, though clinical placement often sets the real floor.
- The degree isn’t the license — every state still requires passing its own required certification exams, which often include Praxis along with a state-specific assessment, after graduation.
- Licensure rules follow your state, not the university’s — check whether your state approves the program directly or evaluates it through reciprocity or transcript review before enrolling.
Find accredited online teaching degree programs, including admissions requirements and program timelines for your certification path.
